Tightness is a feeling, not a diagnosis. The most flexible dancers, gymnasts and contortionists can still feel tight. Short-term tightness: - Move the joint and surrounding joints. Persisting tightness: - Address fear-avoidance of movement with graded exposure. - Violate expectations, e.g. lift heavy weights. - Address thoughts, feelings and learned associations about the context. Most of us don't feel tight when we're sitting for hours watching our favourite movie.